Thursday, April 13, 2017

Happening Right Now

For a city that prides itself in its historic architecture, a surprising amount demolition happens here. Right now, the only historic building remaining at the Firemen's Home--other than the original part of the Museum of Firefighting--is being demolished.

Back in 2004 or so, when the plans for the new Firemen's Home facility were before the Hudson Planning Board, Historic Hudson along with members of the community urged FASNY to renovate the historic buildings--one built in 1916 and other in 1932--rather than demolish them. The promise to preserve this building, which was constructed in 1906, was a concession FASNY made to those who wanted them to preserve their gracious early 20th-century campus, which stood far back from the street. Now, a dozen or so years later, that commitment to preservation has clearly been forgotten. The building is being demolished. A call to code enforcement officer Craig Haigh to learn the justification used to obtain a demolition permit has not been returned.
COPYRIGHT 2017 CAROLE OSTERINK
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4 comments:

  1. unheimlichApril 13, 2017 at 1:04 PM

    This comment has been removed by the author.

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    Replies
    1. unheimlichApril 17, 2017 at 11:50 AM

      I deeply apologize to anyone who was offended by my insensitive joke, which I have since removed. A flag half-mast is nothing to make light of (so really, everyone should be offended).

      Comments made in haste are sometimes regrettable in retrospect.

      It's my greatest wish that the person being honored will rest in peace. If it was someone at the home, then I thank them for their service. I hope that they'd forgive my thoughtless quip.

      Delete
  2. Steve DunnApril 13, 2017 at 11:13 PM

    It would be nice to have notice of these sorts of things in advance, and the reasoning, now wouldn't it? I had fantasized about somehow worming my way into the building to see what it looked like inside, but that fantasy has now come to an end. Sad.

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  3. VincentApril 14, 2017 at 10:02 AM

    There was an auction and tour of all the buildings before the first demo began. The interiors were surprisingly uninspired unlike the exterior architecture which exuded such grand promise.

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